Knives with ZDP-189

Jestersinthemoon

Jestersinthemoon

Joined
Apr 6, 2008
Messages
252
Hello gents ( and ladies ),

I'm just wondering if anyone is familiar with any larger bladed ZDP-189 knives. I already own an AG Russell Acies ( which I love, and I'm desperately looking for another one ) and I have the ZDP Endura. I'm quite fond of this particular steel and I'm trying to find some other models in ZDP with 3.5"+ blade lengths. I know about the Delica, Caly, Stretch, and a few others, but I'm not really interested in those. I'm pretty sure ZT makes one of their models in ZDP, as well, but thats not floating my boat either.

I'm wondering, are there any custom makers out there who use ZDP? Anyone know of any fixed blade ZDP models out there? I would love to have a nice fixed blade bushcraft in ZDP with a convex grind on it. My Acies has a convex grind on it and I don't think you could dull it if you tried.

Any help would be great. Thanks for any suggestions you can give!!
 
there are a bunch of Kershaw/ZT's variants with ZDP.

blur, leek, shallot, mini-cyclone, 0350, etc.
 
Thanks Singularity.

Thats the type of thing I'm looking for. I just looked at Yuna's site and I like the Zen, the Zombie Slayer, and the Assassin. They all show M390 as the metal. I guess maybe Yuna offers ZDP as an option, as well. Prices are actually not too out of this world. They're definitely past my previous upper limits, which were around $450, but considering I'm in the market to buy a couple of Busse's over the next few months, I guess that limit is out the window.

Like I indicated in my first post. I'm not really interested in the Kershaw/ZT/Spyderco ZDP blades. I'm not sure if any other production makers out there use ZDP, but I'd love to know if anyone is aware of other makers who use or offer ZDP as an option.....and I've still never heard of a fixed blade ZDP knife.
 
Jestersinthemoon said:
Thanks Singularity.

Thats the type of thing I'm looking for. I just looked at Yuna's site and I like the Zen, the Zombie Slayer, and the Assassin. They all show M390 as the metal. I guess maybe Yuna offers ZDP as an option, as well. Prices are actually not too out of this world. They're definitely past my previous upper limits, which were around $450, but considering I'm in the market to buy a couple of Busse's over the next few months, I guess that limit is out the window.

Like I indicated in my first post. I'm not really interested in the Kershaw/ZT/Spyderco ZDP blades. I'm not sure if any other production makers out there use ZDP, but I'd love to know if anyone is aware of other makers who use or offer ZDP as an option.....and I've still never heard of a fixed blade ZDP knife.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry I wasn't of much help, it does seem like Yun no longer uses ZDP, he did use it for all his knives before. I haven't looked in his site for a long time though. Takes me a while to wipe the drool off my keyboard when I do. :D

You could email Yun, he's pretty good as communications. He might be willing to do one or a few in ZDP for you.
 
I just received an EQ-2 from Yun in late May with ZDP-189. but the order when in exactly one year before. Yeah since, he has changed to M390, but it doesn't mean he won't make one with ZDP-189.

Lev
 
I bet it will be hard to find a fixed blade in ZDP-189 outside of kitchen type knives. The higher hardness level good ZDP-189 is usually ran at is not what most makers of fixed blades are after. They want a tougher steel, not a chip-prone wear resistant steel. Yun switching to M390 is a big improvement in almost all categories that blade steel is "graded" by. It is tougher, more corrosion resistant, holds an edge longer, and I believe it is generally easier to work and re-sharpen. I have a Caly 3 in ZDP laminate, but I think there is a reason you do not see it in large thick knives. The larger knives that use it are almost all "slicer" knives (the Stretch is awesome btw, I have the VG10 version, but will probably pick up the ZDP-189 version). Also, the Japanese are a little funny about their steels, and a lot of times Japanese steeled knives are only made in Japan, and Japanese made knives are made with Japanese steels only.
 
ZDP is made by Hitachi (I think) and is a pretty unique steel. Actually I think it is considered a ceramic if I remember right. The steel also has a special heat treat and only companies/makers in Japan have access to the heat treat. Kershaw is owned by KAI which is a Japanese company and Spyderco has a lot of their knives made in Japan. Yuna is Japanese. So that might be able to help you search a little better. Oh, and the Acies was made by Kershaw for AG Russell.

Edit: apparently Yuna is not Japanese like I thought.

I have been pretty impressed with ZDP as well but it seems to have fallen out of fashion the last couple years. The Caly 3 and CF Stretch are pretty impressive blades. I think there is a Caly 3.5 that just came out or is about to that is like the 3 and has carbon fiber and ZDP. You might have to compromise a little on the knife design if you want ZDP as I don't think you are going to find a ton of knives that use it.
 
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Rockstead makes stuff with zdp. Better have large pockets for something of theirs though....pricey stuff.
 
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